Hitch pin



Jam, 2 WQUD c. E. SMITH 2,385,447

HITCH PIN Filed April 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorneys C. E. SMITH Jam. 2, mm

HITCH PIN Filed April 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A itomeys Patented Jan. 2, 1949 UNHTED STATES FATENT UFFEQE HITCH PIN Clifford E. Smith, Bolton, S. 0.

Application April 10, 1939, Serial No. 267,199

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in hitch pins and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pin of this character comprising novel means for positively securing or retaining said pin in position when in use.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a hitch pin of the character described embodying a construction and arrangement which is such that the pin may be expeditiously removed when desired without the necessity of using a wrench or other tool.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a hitch pin of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation, showing a hitch pin constructed in accordance with the present invention in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the pin with one end portion thereof broken away in section, showing the retaining dogs in retracted or inoperative position.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the device, taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Figure i is a bottom plan view or" the pin.

Figure 5 is a top plan view.

Figure 6 is a detail View in perspective of the dog retracting links.

Figure 7 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the dogs.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a metallic shank l of any suitable length and diameter. The upper end of the shank I has formed thereon a head 2. Sockets 3 are provided in the upper end portion of the shank I, the purpose of which will be presently set forth. Extending centrally through the shank l is a bore l.

Extending into the shank I from the lower end thereof is a vertical slot or kerf 5 which communicates with the bore 4, said slot providing bifurcations 6. Traversing the slot 5 is a. pin 1 having pivotally mounted thereon a pair of dogs 8 of suitable metal which are operable in said slot 5. A coil spring 9 between the dogs 8 yieldingly urges said dogs outwardly to operative position as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Extending slidably through the bore 4 is a rod ill. Ihe free end portions of the dogs 8 are operatively connected to the lower end of the rod It for retraction thereby through the medium of a pair of links H.

The reference numeral [2 designates a substantially segmental lifting handle which is rotatably secured on the upper end portion of the rod in through the medium of a countersunk nut I3. Depending from the handle I2 is a pair of pins M which are engageable in the sockets 3. This is shown to advantage in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

It is thought that the manner in which the device functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. When the shank l is inserted the coil spring 9 expands or swings the dogs 8 outwardly to operative position, as seen in Fig. 1, thus positively preventing accidental withdrawal of the pin. When it is desired to remove the pin it is only necessary to raise the handle l2 (see Fig. 2) thus swinging the dogs 3 inwardly to retracted position against the tension of the coil spring 9 through the medium or the rod ill and the links ll, after which the pin may be readily withdrawn. By'rotating the handle H2 in a manner to move the pins 14 out of registry with the sockets 3 said pins will rest on the head 2 for securing the dogs 8 in retracted position when desired.

It is believed that the many advantages of a hitch pin constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A hitch pin of the character described comprising a shank having a longitudinal slot in one end portion providing bifurcations and further having a bore therein communicating with the slot, a pair of retaining dogs pivotally mounted between the bifurcations and operable in the slot, resilient means for expanding said dogs to operative position, a rod operable in the bore, means operatively connecting the dogs to one end of said rod for retraction thereby, a handle rotatably mounted on the other end portion of'the rod, and depending, rigid pins on said handle engageable with the shank for securing the dogs in retracted position, the shank having sockets therein for receiving the pins for releasing the dogs to operative position.

CLIFFORD E. SMITH. 

